A small enclosed field or area where horses are kept or exercised, or the area at a racetrack where horses are saddled.
From Middle English parrok, from Old English pearroc meaning 'enclosure,' related to park. The word originally meant any small enclosed area but became specifically associated with horses by the 16th century.
The evolution of 'paddock' from a general enclosure to a horse-specific space reflects the central role of horses in pre-industrial society. Interestingly, the word shares its root with 'park,' showing how different types of enclosed spaces developed distinct identities based on their primary inhabitants.
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